Poems about independence celebrate the spirit of freedom and self-reliance. They pay tribute to the courage and determination of individuals and nations who fought for their autonomy.
These verses evoke a sense of empowerment and liberation, urging readers to break free from societal constraints and embrace their unique paths.
Poets often use independence as a metaphor for personal growth and self-discovery, inspiring readers to stand tall in adversity and forge their destinies with unwavering resolve.
A. A. Milne’s ‘Independence’ takes on the perspective of a child seeking freedom from adult control. The poem succinctly rejects patronizing adults who forget a child’s need for independence.
As its name would imply, 'Independence' is all about seeking independence. The young speaker lists off various patronizing adult phrases with increasing frustration, concluding that adults will never understand his need for independence.
‘Every Man A King’ by Timothy Thomas Fortune is a passionate poem that calls for ideals like liberty to be distributed equally amongst all people.
Independence is a topic that's explored in the poem. Here, that liberation is meant to be from those who rule, such as tyrants or kings. Throughout the poem, the speaker declares that the "sovereign masses" should be independent of the forces that would otherwise compel them into further subjugation.
‘Before We Were Married’ laments the exchange of one man’s lofty freedom for the monotonous captivity they believe marriage to be.
The speaker’s independence, the one thing they seem to cherish more than anything else, is deeply intertwined with the natural world of the poem. Lawson's imagery depicts life before marriage as one of rugged individualism, working along the "telegraph" in rough terrain, enduring "winters’ gales and rains." Even in the face of hardship, there is a sense of autonomy and self-reliance they find preferable to the self-restraint of marriage.
BLACKSOIL PLAINS were grey soil, grey soil in the drought.
Fifteen years away, and five hundred miles out;
Swag and bag and billy carried all our care
Before we were married, and I wish that I were there.
Walcott’s ‘A Far Cry from Africa’ explores postcolonial identities, encapsulating the struggle between African roots and colonial influence.
'A Far Cry from Africa' addresses the topic of independence by exploring the struggle for liberation from colonial rule. The poem delves into the complexities and moral dilemmas faced by individuals and nations striving for autonomy. Walcott highlights the desire for self-governance, depicting the fight for independence as a necessary and just cause. Through vivid imagery and introspective reflections, the poet captures the yearning for freedom and the challenges that come with the pursuit of independence. The poem serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing quest for self-determination and the significance of asserting one's sovereignty in the face of oppression.
‘Little Red Cap’ by Duffy is a feminist retelling of the classic tale, exploring the empowerment and growth of the little girl.
‘Little Red Cap’ portrays the protagonist’s journey toward independence as she steps into the woods, symbolizing her shift from childhood innocence to adult decision-making. By choosing to follow the wolf and explore desire, she claims her autonomy, defying the expectations placed upon her. This marks a significant moment of self-determination, where she embraces the power of choice and the consequences that follow.
In ‘Retreating Light’, the speaker empowers humans with the tools and experiences to craft their own stories, finding fulfillment in their newfound independence.
The transition from relying on the speaker for stories to writing their own signifies a concept of independence. It shows how individuals can break away from dependence on others and take control of their own narratives. This theme underscores the importance of self-reliance and autonomy.
Okara’s ‘Spirit of the Wind’ examines the struggle between instinctual freedom and societal constraints through the metaphor of migrating storks.
This poem addresses independence through the metaphor of the migrating storks. The storks' instinctual guidance and freedom of movement symbolize independence from external constraints. The poem prompts reflection on the inherent desire for autonomy and liberation, resonating with themes of personal sovereignty and the pursuit of individual freedom amidst societal expectations.
‘Snapshots of a Daughter-In-Law’ is a feminist poem of defiance and activism against the misogynistic constraints of patriarchal society. It is a beautiful, and often satirical, poetic exploration of the position women occupy within a male-dominated world.
Independence for women from the restrictions of the patriarchy is a key topic of the poem. Patriarchy is likened to something that is constraining over women in the poem, so the imagery at the end of freedom and flight from these constraints, symbolises the independence that Rich preaches through Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law. Independence as a topic, is likened also to freedom in the poem, where Rich presents and encourages a need, and an activism, for women to free themselves from the oppressive constraints of patriarchy, and to enjoy female independence.
Dickinson’s ‘The Soul selects her own Society’ depicts a Soul that isolates herself and selectively chooses one companion.
The Soul exercises complete autonomy, free from societal pressures or expectations, to form relationships. This independence is evident as the Soul confidently shuts the door on chariots and emperors, demonstrating her self-sufficiency and lack of obligation to conform to societal niceties. The Soul's ability to isolate herself and select her own companion without coercion shows her independence, power, and self-reliance, unimpeded by external influences or repercussions.
‘The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants’ by Emily Dickinson personifies the mushroom and nature while depicting its mysterious and fleeting life.
It seems as if the mushroom acts independently, on its own whim, defying the rules of the larger entity of nature as it does not act like other plants. Its behavior is unique as it has an unusual growth pattern; it appears suddenly and then vanishes, making one wonder where it'd be the next. The mushroom's independent spirit is emphasized by calling it 'an Apostate' of nature that can't even be tracked. Moreover, it takes its path, unbothered by nature's other plans, and seeing the favorable summer circumstances, it grows regardless of the grass.
‘I Was Made Erect and Lone’ by Henry David Thoreau is a poem about trusting in your own individual autonomy.
The poem advocates for independence specific to Transcendentalism, as it combines a reverence for nature as a revealer of aspiring ideals and a determination to be morally self-reliant. These are incredibly important tenants of the Transcendentalist movement.
‘The Blackstone Rangers’ by Gwendolyn Brooks is a stunning poem that plunges earnestly into the daily life of the group in order to uncover some truth about its purpose and necessity.
The independence of the Blackstone Rangers is mentioned throughout. It is one of the reasons that other civil rights leaders and groups struggle with their legacy and power. On the one hand, they have seized their own sovereignty, but on the other, it has been through illegal and violent means. Mary Ann also expresses a desire for independence and sees membership in the Rangers as the only means to ever attain it.
A gentle and nostalgic poem, ‘The Lamplighter’ by Robert Louis Stevenson captures a child’s quiet admiration for a lamplighter, blending warmth, innocence, and the simple dreams of youth.
This topic features most evidently in 'The Lamplighter's second stanza. The child speaker relates a desire to be older and stronger so they can make choices independent of their parents. A decision they plan on making outside their parents' influence is the one of becoming a lamplighter, like Leerie.
My tea is nearly ready and the sun has left the sky.
It's time to take the window to see Leerie going by;
For every night at teatime and before you take your seat,
With lantern and with ladder he comes posting up the street.
Stevenson’s ‘The Land of Nod’ is a poem in which a child speaker relates the intrigue they experience with their dreams.
The topic of independence comes up in the middle of the poem. More specifically, in the second stanza, as the child speaker mentions that in this land, they are alone and no one tells them what to do. The tone in which this is delivered is chipper, showing that this is what the speaker wants and enjoys. Through this, Stevenson effectively captures the wants and desires of a child before they realise the burden of independence.
‘Bent Double With Weight’ by Gabriel Okara is a poem which looks at the struggles of the post colonial period in Nigeria and compares them to the struggles which the people now face.
This poem discusses the efforts that people made to gain their independence from the country which colonised them. It shows the pride which they felt when they finally achieved this and how this affected their national identity. The poem ends by showing that this independence has not brought them everything which they hoped it would.
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